Do temperatures effect the concentrates and the machines? Can I take the CO2 cylinder on an airplane? How do I bottle my Pop? Do I need to measure my water to get the proper amount? How do I make different size drinks? Do I have to completely fill the water chamber? How do I resurrect a flat soda without pouring it in my machine? What is the plastic tube in each of my decanter bottles for? How do I use the Flask Measuring device? What is the shelf life on concentrates? Do the concentrates need to be kept in the refrigerator after they are opened? How do I know when I am running out of CO2? When I squirt the concentrate into the glass it makes a mess -- what can we about this? What do the dates stamped on the concentrate mean? What is the shelf life of concentrates? How does the delivery system work? Do I need to be home when you deliver my products? What if I forget to leave the cylinder out for the delivery driver? What is the difference between the Drink-It and the Soft Drink Machine?

Do temperatures effect the concentrates and the machines? Our concentrates do not need to be refrigerated but keep concentrates out of direct sunlight.  Sunlight can shorten the shelf life.  Storing them in a cool place will maximize their shelf life.  CO2 cylinders need to be kept out of direct sunlight.  If a full bottle gets too hot you will know it because your machine will spit water out as soon as you push the button down to carbonate.  If this happens, put your full hot CO2 bottle in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Then if the problem continues call our office.   Can I take the CO2 cylinder on an airplane? It is illegal to put any high pressure cylinders on board any airplane.  If you try putting them in your checked luggage or carry them onto the plane in carry on luggage or bags you could have the cylinders confiscated and be given a federal fine. How do I bottle my Pop? You may purchase specially made re-usable bottles and caps from us that will keep your carbonated beverage fresh until you open it the first time.  When our bottles are new you will have to create the seal in the cap of the bottle by tightening it down extra tight the first 5 times you make a drink. To properly bottle your pop requires; A proper size container with an air tight screw on cap. The container is filled up.  Carbonation will go into the air space and pop will go flat if not filled up all the way. A drink properly carbonated in the normal manner as in the operating instructions for your machine. Fill the bottle directly from the machine.  If you put the drink in another container first, and then fill the bottle, your drink will go flat. To avoid getting a bottle full of foam, put the carbonated water in the bottle first and then add the concentrate of your choice. If you use a funnel to fill the bottle don’t use a metal funnel as the metal will zap some carbonation out of the water.  After filling the bottle screw the cap onto the bottle quickly and tightly. Tumble the bottle twice to stir and you’re done. Our apologies, the bottles are not dishwasher safe. Do I need to measure my water to get the proper amount? No.  Simply pour the water into the machine until it is at the bottom of the pouring cup as instructed in the instructions. How do I make different size drinks? Do I have to completely fill the water chamber? Plan on making drinks in size increments of 6 ounces (6,12,18,24,30,36,42,48, etc.).  Put the correct amount of concentrate for the container you are using in that container and add the correct amount of carbonated water by carbonating 1 or more chambers full.  When carbonating always fill the water chamber all the way.  If you only fill it half way to make a half size soda, it will require more CO2 to carbonate since it will have to fill the air space in the water chamber with CO2 before it will carbonate the water.  Then if you only make a half size drink, dump the remaining water down the sink or bottle it for later use.  Do not leave it sitting in the machine.  Since the concentrate is the most expensive part of the drink, you don’t want to waste any concentrate.  How do I resurrect a flat soda without pouring it in my machine? Make an atomic soda of the same type and blend it with the dead drink.  To make an atomic soda, after carbonating for a normal drink press the carbonating button down and quickly release it 1 to 4 additional times to make a super carbonated drink. What is the plastic tube in each of my decanter bottles for? If you have a plastic tube in your quart decanter bottles, this is an extender for the pump.  The pump does not reach all the way to the bottom of the bottle.  Put the extender into the bottom end of the pump and cut it to the proper length.  Cut at a slight angle so as not to create suction from the bottle. How do I use the Flask Measuring device? The concentrate will flow into the built in measuring cup when you squeeze the flask with the cap over the built in measuring cup removed.  The other cap must be on securely but this one must be removed to allow airflow. What is the shelf life on concentrates? All concentrates have a different shelf life depending on its ingredients.  Depending on the concentrate they may be good for several years.  See our freshness guaranty above.  We never recommend you purchase more concentrate than can be used up in a period of 6 months! Do the concentrates need to be kept in the refrigerator after they are opened? They don’t need to be kept in the refrigerator before or after they are opened.  Store them in a cool dark place like a pantry. How do I know when I am running out of CO2? When the CO2 bottle is full it is under maximum pressure and will carbonate quickly.  When the CO2 bottle is nearly empty it has minimal pressure and will seem sluggish or slow to carbonate.  This then is an indication that it is time to place your next order.  The CO2 will go through 2 ½ to 3 ½ gallons of concentrate.  The first 1 or 2 bottles of CO2 that you go through will be your learning curve.  After you have gone through 2 bottles of CO2 you will always know by the sound when you are about out of CO2 and it is then time to place an order. When I squirt the concentrate into the glass it makes a mess -- what can we about this? Be sure you are holding the glass at an agngle to the concentrate bottle so that the concentrate flows into the side of the glass, rather than directly on to the bottom of the glass. What do the dates stamped on the concentrate mean? What is the shelf life of concentrates? Each manufacturer has a different way of dating concentrates.  Please note that the dates you see are NOT expiration dates, but rather the dates that the concentrates were packaged.  We guarantee that all concentrates will be fresh for at least 6 months as long as they are stored in a place that it does not get too hot. How does the delivery system work? We deliver one time per month to each market area.  Deliveries are scheduled on one or two days and are made between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 pm.  When you place your order, go to our Delivery Schedule page.  This will direct you on how to identify your Route Number.  Based on your route number, you can then look up the delivery dates in your area. Do I need to be home when you deliver my products? You do not need to be home when we deliver your products.  However, we do need you to designate a location for us to leave your products.  If you have ordered a CO2 refill, you will also need to leave your old CO2 container out for us to pick up.  This is very important!   If you do not leave your CO2 cylinder out for us, you will be responsible for returning the cylinder to our store.  (See next FAQ for details). What if I forget to leave the cylinder out for the delivery driver? Because the cylinders are custom made for us, it takes us 3 months to get more cylinders.  If we can't get your cylinder back, it creates a shortage of cylinders for us and creates difficulties for us to deliver to other customers. Options: If the cylinder is empty, and ONLY if it is empty, it can be sent to us using UPS, FedEx, US mail, DHL, etc.  If the cylinder is NOT empty you have four options: You can ship it back to us -- but you need to call us (at 800-397-9771) for instructions on how to empty it, OR You can bring it into our retail location in Burien, OR Call and place an order for delivery next month and we will pick it up then, OR Call and ask us to pick up next month (without an order) and pay a pickup charge of $12.00, OR Don't return it and we will bill you a user fee of $8.00 per month for every month we don't have the cylinder. What is the difference between the Drink-It and the Soft Drink Machine? A bigger shoe doesn't mean it's a better shoe for you.  It is important to get the machine that best fits the size of drinks that primary soda drinkers in your household drink. The Soft Drink Machine is best for households that drink can sized and 1/2 can sized drinks.  The Drinkit Machine is best for households that drink 1 liter or larger sized drinks, or if you are always bottling up can sized dirnks to pack in lunches and take with you. The Soft Drink Machine holds enough water to make 1 can of soda at a time. The larger Drinkit holds enough water tomake one liter of soda at a time or 3 individual can sized drinks at a time.  But, it will not make just 1 can sized dirnk at at a time. When using either machine you must fill to capacity with water and once carbonated you need to use all of the carbonated water.  You don't want to leave water sitting in the machine.